Check out my selection of summer songs over at Muzzle Of Bees. Ryan was gracious enough to ask me to submit a few tunes for this feature. The one song that isn't linked up over there can be found below. Dig it.

MP3 | Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Hey everybody! We are back (but thoroughly tired) from a fantastic fun-filled weekend in Pennsylvania without any A/C. I'll give y'all a full rundown tomorrow but now I'm just going to kick back and leave you with a little Whiskeytits. Yep, their name says it all. See you tomorrow.

MP3 | Whiskeytits - Goddamn Pirate
MP3 | Whiskeytits - Guns Vs. Fangs

Well, the year is almost half over and my daughter is now 7 months old (can you believe it?) There has also been a lot of great music released in 2006 thus far and I've got a whole bunch of it loaded onto the iPod for our road trip this weekend. We are going to Pennsylvania for some much needed rest and relaxation this weekend, and to give my in-laws a chance to see the newest little member of the family. Since I'm not sure when I'll be able to post next, below are some of my favorites of 2006 so far. Somewhat inspired by the great Contrast Podcast recap podcast, here is a little something (20 songs) to tide you over until I get back. If there is other great stuff that you think is worth a mention as some of the best so far this year, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I'll catch y'all later.

MP3 | Band Of Horses - Funeral Everything All The Time

MP3 | Parts & Labor - New Buildings Stay Afraid

MP3 | Big Buildings - Grease Fire Water Everywhere

MP3 | The Loved Ones - Suture Self Keep Your Heart

MP3 | Greg Davis/Sebastian Roux - Daybreak Paquet Surprise

MP3 | Centro-matic - Covered Up In Mines Fort Recovery

MP3 | Gnarls Barkley - Crazy St. Elsewhere

MP3 | TV On The Radio - Snakes And Martyrs Return To Cookie Mountain

MP3 | Catfish Haven - Please Come Back Please Come Back

MP3 | Islands - Rough Gem Return To The Sea

MP3 | Maritime - Calm We The Vehicles

MP3 | Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rise Up With Fists Rabbit Fur Coat

MP3 | Flook - The Tortoise And The Hare Haven

MP3 | Be Your Own Pet - Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle S/T

MP3 | Loose Fur - Apostolic Born Again In The USA

MP3 | Man Man - Engwish Budd Six Demon Bag

MP3 | Rocky Votolato - Tennessee Train Tracks Makers

MP3 | Lawrence Arms - Great Lakes, Great Escapes Oh! Calcutta!

MP3 | Division Day - To The Woods Beartrap Island

MP3 | The Editors - Munich The Back Room

Bebek is a musical ensemble that calls the city of brotherly love (Philadelphia, PA) their home. They are not necessarily a group that would normally be featured here at CYSTSFTS?, but whatever. Classifications be damned. On their new EP Open Eyes, the band lays down a dark, late-night, atmospheric, almost trip-hop foundation for the sultry female vocals of Lynn Michalopolous. The music is an interesting blend of dub-influenced world music grooves that is not unlike a combination of Portishead and the music of Cirque du Soleil.

Again, this is not punk. It is not even really very "indie" sounding. What Bebek does offer, though, is excellent musicianship and a unique, laid-back sound that many of you may be interested in. Have a listen.

MP3 | Bebek - Balance Beam Open Eyes
MP3 | Bebek - 807 Dub Open Eyes

Don't anyone forget about our 2nd podcast. My wife even joined in on this one. You can subscribe to the feed subscribe to the feed or just download it here.

So I signed up for a Myspace profile a few months ago, and since then many bands have used that as a way to introduce me to their music. Other bands have simply sent me CD's that I always (eventually) listen to. Some of that music you have already seen featured here (Big Buildings, Dirty Little Secret, The Brokedown, etc...), while some of it is not really right for CYSTSFTS? (read: it is plain bad or I just don't like it).

There is (however) a lot of music I've heard via Myspace that is quite good, but that I can't really devote an entire post to. So I would recommend checking out all the varied artists below and giving their tunes a listen. You can almost always hear more of them by visiting their Myspace pages.

Typhoon is from Portland, Oregon and has their debut album out now on Boy Gorilla Records. RIYL: Broken Social Scene, Neutral Milk Hotel, etc...

MP3 | Typhoon - Rolling Credits

Los Olvidados (which can be traslated as "the forgotten ones" or something like that) is a rock band from Moorpark, CA. I really like this song. RIYL: Old 97's, Tom Petty, etc...

MP3 | Los Olvidados - Pacifist

L.A. rapper/spoken word artist Ed Mecija was kind ehough to send me his self-released EP a few weeks back. The lo-fi production adds a charming element to his unique lyrical style. If you like beats check this guy out. RIYL: Saul Williams, intelligent hip-hop, etc...

MP3 | Ed Mecija - Beautiful Friend

Austin, Texas' She Sir is a duo making old-school shoegazer pop music for the year 2006. RIYL: My Bloody Valentine, Jesus And Mary Chain, etc...

MP3 | She Sir - You Can't Change A Thing

Idle Vice is a punk/hardcore band from Long Island, NY. They are unsigned and will self-release a 5-song EP on July 25th. RIYL: Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, etc...

MP3 | Idle Vice - Vain

Hello Defective is an indie pop rock band from Oklahoma that will get you tapping your toes. RIYL: Flaming Lips, a modern version of The Beatles, etc...

MP3 | Hello Defective - Plastic Hearts

The Black Black Black is another Portland, Oregon-based band that knows how to rip shit up. RIYL: early Modest Mouse, dirty indie-rock, etc...

MP3 | The Black Black Black - The In

From Wilmington, DE, The Sky Drops are like a fuzzed-out shoegazer version of The White Stripes. RIYL: MBV, Smashing Orange, etc...

MP3 | The Sky Drops - Green To Red

Low Lustre hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota and knocks out some killer indie rock tunes. RIYL: Summerteeth era Wilco, Beat Radio, etc...

MP3 | Low Lustre - Dancing Blind

If you have sent stuff or messaged me, don't worry if I haven't posted it here. If its good, I'll get to it eventually.

Why is pop-punk such a dirty word and such an underappreciated genre? Has it always been that way? Here is a little story...

I've know the guys in New Found Glory for roughly six years (well before they became superstars featured on MTV's Cribs) and aside from (perhaps) a little less bite and a little more polish, their music hasn't really changed all that much. They put out records with Florida hardcore/punk labels Fiddler and Eulogy, but eventually made big waves with their records on MCA/Geffen. Despite having major-label ties, good distribution, and media overexposure, it seems unfair to me that any melodic and radio-friendly (or rather video-friendly) pop-punk (NFG included) is instantly discarded and cast off as an inferior form of music. Maybe I am just bitter because I used to be in a pop-punk band, or maybe I'm just a sucker for a good song that sticks in your head. It seems like just because the music is consumable by the mainstream it is automatically assumed the band's music is somehow less honest.

Maybe the mainstream acceptance and the over-marketing of many of these bands turns people off, but the much of the music they are making is just as honest as pop music made by indie bands like Boy Least Likely To or even Page France. Believe it or not, the initial goal of every band that has a "hit" song on MTV2, Fuse, or radio is not necessarily to appeal to the masses. My former band didn't write songs we thought would sell. We wrote what we knew and what we wanted to hear. Our affiliation with Drive-Thru Records was a chance happening that didn't change anything we did. It simply allowed our music to be heard by more people.

A good catchy melody is just that no matter what genre of music it is. C'mon, if you speed up the music of Buddy Holly and even early Beatles stuff what do you have? Pop-punk plain and simple.

One promising new band trying to keep the genre in good health is Atlanta, GA's Cartel. Barely out of high-school, the band released the Ransom EP in 2004 on The Militia Group. It is an explosive blast of catchy youthful pop-punk that is a whole lotta fun. Now I know what you are thinking, this is just another pop-punk band. Yes, but I'm trying to prove a point. What else does pop-punk need to be other than fun and catchy-as-hell? Ok.

They recorded their debut full-length Chroma for The Militia Group (who's major-label ties I'm not sure of), but the record was "acquired for release" by Epic. The sounds of Chroma incorporate more than just your standard pop-punk fare and (although I prefer the speedier songs) is a step forward musically for this young band. Some might be crying sellout, but I'm just not listening to that.

MP3 | Cartel - Honestly Chroma
MP3 | Cartel - Luckie St. Chroma

You all know that Sonic Youth has a new album due out on June 13th, right? And you will all go out and buy it like you did all their other records, right?

Well, the album is called Rather Ripped and if you need any more incentive to go get it, below are a few tracks to whet your appetite. It features a (dare I say) more "mature" Sonic Youth sound that is somehow tighter, more focused, and less abrasive (but no less awesome) than on many past releases. Have a listen for yourself, or stream the entire album here.

They are also touring almost all summer including a stop here in Chicago at Lollapalooza on August 5th.

MP3 | Sonic Youth - Pink Steam Rather Ripped
MP3 | Sonic Youth - Incinerate Rather Ripped

I was less than two years old when (in early 1980) The Effigies formed and became one of Chicago's first and most important punk rock bands. They (along with bands like Naked Raygun) can be credited with creating the Chicago-style punk rock sound of the 80's. Driven by forceful guitars (a la The Buzzcocks) and the down-to-earth lyrics of frontman John Kezdy, the band was (unlike a lot of other "punk" bands) never afraid to write a catchy melody.

The band released the Haunted Town 12" in late 1981 and then the Bodybag/Security 7" in 1982 on their own Ruthless Records which also put out the debut records from Steve Albini's Big Black and even Naked Raygun. In addition to touring the country multiple times, The Effigies released an EP and three-full lengths before breaking up in 1986.

The band reformed in 1987, performed with a few different lineups, and called it quits again in 1990. In 1995 (however) the original members agreed to rerelease almost all of their early material on the Remains Nonviewable retrospective on Touch & Go Records in late 1995 and reunited for a few shows in late 1995 and early 1996.

Interestingly enough, my chance to see The Effigies live in action has not yet passed. The band (featuring 3 of the 4 original members) has been playing shows again since 2004, but (alas) hasn't released any new material in 20 years. For a better rundown of their history than I could ever hope to write, go here or here.

MP3 | The Effigies - Body Bag Bodybag/Security 7"
MP3 | The Effigies - Mob Clash Haunted Town EP
MP3 | The Effigies - We're Da Machine We're Da Machine EP
MP3 | The Effigies - The Eights Fly On A Wire

I know you have all been waiting for this. Yep, here is the second edition of Can You Hear The Podcast From The Southside? The theme for this one is "Summertime Is In The Air (or) Travelling Songs" and I'll be the first to admit that this one is far superior to the last one. The fidelity issues that (IMHO) plagued the first podcast have been fixed and my lovely wife Amy agreed to join me and select some songs for this podcast as well. She makes it a whole lot more fun. Anyhow, this one features almost 40 minutes of the usual banter from us and some great tunes by artists like Lucero, Alkaline Trio, Small Knives, Broken Social Scene, Smoking Popes, plus a few surprises...

You can listen via iTunes on your computer or take it with you in you portable device. Subscribe to the feed (click here) and you'll get the latest podcast just as soon as its available.

Podcast | Can You Hear The Podcast (Vol. 2)

Be Your Own PET is a band of Nashville, Tennessee kids (still in high school) that knock out ragged and raucous 2-minute blasts of gar(b)age punk. It is their youthful exuberance and the childlike wailing of vocalist Jemina Abegg that makes this record so damn much fuuuuuun. Totally spastic yet somehow sweet, BYOP's self-titled debut is a near-perfect balanced between their naive goofiness and and their lets-fuck-shit-up attitude. The album is out now on ultra-hip label XL Recordings. RIYL: Ari Ari, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, McClusky, Blood Bros.

MP3 | Be Your Own PET - Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle S/T
MP3 | Be Your Own PET - Adventure S/T

Ezarchive is down (like it often is) so I can't post any new tunes right now. Maybe later...

In other news, Contrast Podcast #7 is up now and presents some blogger faves from 2006 thus far, including a contribution from yours truly. I'm also contributing a track to #8 as well.

More later...

Since seeing them live a few years back at the Bottom Lounge, local Chicago favorites Big Buildings have been lurking around the edges of my awareness, but thanks to Amy from the awesome blog Shake Your Fist (based only about 30 miles east of CYSTSFTS?), the band is now planted firmly in the center my musical radar.

The band's latest (and recently released) album Water Everywhere is easily one of my favorites of the year thus far. Blending loose roots-rock reminiscent of A.M. era Wilco and Red Red Meat with a small dose of the frictional post-whatever dissonance of Misson Of Burma, Big Buildings is quickly building a reputation as one of the best and most exciting bands in Chicago. The songs on Water Everywhere have a worn (warm) lo-fi and almost live feel to them. Like a band kickin' it onstage while trying not to knock the beers off their amps. Not that the music is sloppy, it just has an immediacy and (as jazz musicians might say) an "in the pocket" vibe. I can almost hear the clanking bottles and creaking barstools now.

I'd suggest listening to the tracks below and then going here to get you own copy of Water Everywhere. Do it now! I've been listening to the album non stop since getting it in the mail a few days ago and it just keeps getting better and better.

MP3 | Big Buildings - Grease Fire Water Everywhere
MP3 | Big Buildings - Saskatchewan Water Everywhere

Joy is a band that doesn't always try to fill every corner of their raw, low-fi sound with noise. This Boston trio would reather let their songs breathe.

They sent me their latest album Devil's Blues which is (as the name suggests) filled with gentle, rambling, backwoodsy blues folk-rock that just floats along in the afternoon breeze. A foundation of gently strummed acoustic guitar underlays a vast array of instrumentation and hauntingly understated vocals. It is simple music that is utterly complicated abut sounds effortlessly crafted. Highly recommended for fans of Iron & Wince, Sun Kill Moon, and Magnolia Electric Co.

Devil's Blues is out now on Shrimper Records.

MP3 | Joy - Tiger's Paws Devil's Blues
MP3 | Joy - Goner's Blues Devil's Blues

You may have read it here, here, or even gotten the real deal here, but Hot Water Music has officially called it a day. We all saw it coming but it still makes me a little sad. Chris, George, and Jason have continued on as The Draft and are planning to release a full length on Epitaph Records. The odd man out (seemingly) is Chuck, but he is happily focused on his family but is also planning to continue writing and recording his solo music.

Hot Water Music means (and has meant) a lot to a lot of people (my wife and I included). The band is much more than just another emo or melodic hardcore band. Their music is intense, powerful, and moving. With six proper albums, an EP collection, a live album, and tons of miscellaneous tracks the band has certainly left its mark. There are also plans for No Idea Records to release another odds and ends compilation from the band later this year.

Here are a few of my favorite HWM songs. Listen and remember.

MP3 | Hot Water Music - Alachua Never Ender
MP3 | Hot Water Music - Floor Finding The Rhythms
MP3 | Hot Water Music - Just Don't Say You Lost It Forever & Counting
MP3 | Hot Water Music - It's Hard To Know No Division
MP3 | Hot Water Music - Turnstile Fuel For The Hate Game
MP3 | Hot Water Music - Remedy Caution
MP3 | Hot Water Music - Ink & Lead The New What Next

After befriending me on Myspace, L.A. favorites The Brokedown sent me their amazing EP The Dutchman's Gold. It is an instant classic that finds the band hitting paydirt while digging for gold.

On the EP the band dishes out near-perfect power-pop tunes complete with glistening vocal harmonies, jangling guitars, and just enough subtle twang to let you know they aren't necessarily city boys. Modern day California pop for the masses, the music references everything from classics like The Byrds and The Eagles to modern stuff like A.C. Newman and Matthew Sweet.

The Dutchman's Gold is a startilingly sold (but too short) debut from a band that has a promising future. In fact, they just finished tracking a full-length album. The EP is self-released, so go over to their website and pick up a copy for yourself.

MP3 | The Brokedown - Down In The Valley The Dutchman's Gold
MP3 | The Brokedown - Sparks The Dutchman's Gold

On first listen I thought that they were a Pavement tribute band, but in reality Minnesota's Hockey Night stands as a great new band on their own merit. It must be noted that the singer's voice and vocal delivery have an uncanny resemblance to Stephen Malkmus while he (just like Malkmus) is backed by loose, free-spirited, and almost unhinged indie rock music. How can you not like that?

Hockey Night does (however) have less of Pavement's "California cool" but a subtle nod towards twangy classic rock a la Skynyrd or even perhaps Thin Lizzy. It is music straight out of the glory days of 90's indie pop with dual guitars that just yearns to be played on sunny summer days. Their latest album Keep Guessin' came out last year on Lookout Records while the band has new one in the works. Below are two new tracks and two from Keep Guessin'. Enjoy.

MP3 | Hockey Night - Renegades Keep Guessin'
MP3 | Hoceky Night - For Guys' Eyes Only Keep Guessin'
MP3 | Hockey Night - Dark Trance Previously Unreleased
MP3 | Hoceky Night - Who We Are Previously Unreleased

Hey everybody, Pittsburgh's instrumental math-rock giants Don Caballero are back. Well, sort of. Drummer Damon Che is the only member remaining from the previous incarnation of the band. While the band still dishes out dense and pummelingly beautiful incricate metallic math-rock, their compositions seem looser than before. Mabye they have "broken free" of expectations or maybe they are just having a whole lot of fun doing what they do. Either way, their new record World Class Listening Problem is due out on Relapse Records next week (May 16th). You know I'll be picking up a copy of this one.

MP3 | Don Caballero - Railroad Cancellation World Class Listening Problem
MP3 | Don Caballero - Palm Trees In The Fecking Bahamas World Class Listening Problem

My wife (being a new stay-at-home-mom) is looking for recommendations of good books to read.

Everyone knows that this Sunday is Mother's Day, right? Well, I am (shhh don't tell) looking for suggestions for Mother's Day gifts or my wonderful wife. It is her first Mother's Day and I know that all you other hipster blogging moms will have some suggestions for something special. Email me your suggestions. I'll post some music later after I get out of this dang statistics class. Thanks!

I got a package about two weeks ago from the excellent Ulf at Aux Records containing some music from Syracuse, NY's Merit. While Ulf claimed that some had compared their sound to that of emo-core greats Texas Is The Reason, I really didn't hear it (and after a few more listens I still think that's a bit of a stretch).

Anyhow, on their first record (2004's When We fight), what I heard was a talented band that hadn't yet found their identity. Musically the album is all over the map and hints at what the band was capable of but (in my opinion) misses the mark. It is a jumble of heavy jam-rock, acoustic songs, and awkward rockers. Since that time (however) Merit has grown by leaps and bounds and is now a band you want to give a listen to. Let me also mention that their singer (Brenna Merrit) has quite a powerful set of pipes that remind me (at times) of Allison from the now-defunct Florida pop-punk band Discount.

On their just released (May 9th) double EP, Merit's sound (though it is much more streamlined and focused) still retains a little of that 311 meets Incubus groove-oriented party rock vibe, but is significanly more cohesive than their previous release. The band sounds almost like a female-fronted Gameface. Pop-rock with obvious punk influences and enough hooks that sounds like it could be played on radio stations across the country. The self-titled 10 song double EP is comprised of 1/2 charged up rock songs and 1/2 acoustic songs. Buy it now on Aux Records.

MP3 | Merit - Blue Bedroom S/T EP
MP3 | Merit - Nixon S/T EP

The sounds of Rager are latest thing in hardcore to hit the mean streets of Chicago. They like drinking, partying, and setting fire (musically speaking) to the stage.

Andy (the drummer) is a long-time friend of mine and formerly of art-noise-core legends xHIKEx. Murty plays bass while Tim and Maggie both play guitar. Everyone sings different parts (a la Spazz) except Andy. I mean, he certainly ain't Tim Rogner.

Anyhow, their sound is that of spastic hardcore, but hard to describe. I'll try though. Think 88 Fingers Louie is dating the Locust and they go to a ballgame at Wrigley Field. They get sunburned and drunk on Old Style and then (for some unknown reason) get to sing the 7th inning stretch. Yeah. Rager sounds kinda like that. So in plain English, they fuckin' slay.

They just recorded a 7 song demo called What Would You Do Last Summer? and will be raging (playing out) across Chicagoland and the Midwest this summer. Be their friend on Myspace.

MP3 | Rager - Rear End Career Ender Demo
MP3 | Rager - So What Who Cares Demo

Last Thursday was a sunny day and before my 5:30PM class I was sitting outside, under a tree thoroughly enjoying the sounds of Field Music. They play some damn fine raw orchestral English pop music that is melodic as hell and full of great (sometimes) Beach Boys-ish vocal harmonies. While I don't normally listen to stuff that is this traditionally pop, there is a certain starkness...an emptiness about the music that draws me in. The songs are pretty upbeat and rhythmically fun but there is an underlying darkness that gives their self-titled album a certain edge. Its like post-pop-punk without the punk. Even my man RTE over at Hummer (a good new blog to watch) gave a write up on them over the weekend.

Their self-titled debut album has been out since last August in the UK but was just released this past April on Memphis Industries here in the States.

MP3 | Field Music - Its Not The Only Way To Feel Happy S/T
MP3 | Field Music - You Can Decide S/T

Centro-matic has a great new record out called Fort Recovery. In fact, Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers calls it, "My favorite album by my favorite band... [it] is a masterpiece." That is some pretty high praise.

Anyhow, Centro-matic is led by singer/songwriter Will Johnson whose rough-edged and raspy voice holds together what I am calling emo-twang. You know, kinda like Ryan Adams but with a little more fuzzed out guitar and a little less I'm-an-arrogant-piece-of-shit attitude. There might be a little Replacements or Neil Young hiding in there as well. Another valid comparison would be to (perhaps) the work of Joe Pernice. You know what I'm talking about here.

Fort Recovery sounds as Americana as apple pie and shines with that golden twilight glow. It is an album that is instantly familiar, but isn't a retread or contrived. Great songs make for a great listen every time. Fort Recovery is out now on the excellent Misra Records. I'm sure my wife would really like this.

MP3 | Centro-Matic - Covered Up In Mines Fort Recovery
MP3 | Centro-matic - Patience For The Ride Fort Recovery

Where oh where has the offense of the Chicago Cubs gone? It has completely disappeared in the last week and the pitching has been horrible as well. I know that the Cubs have been plagued by injuries to D-Lee, Wood, and "Crybaby" Prior, but we all know that Dusty Baker needs to go far away and never come back. It is a bit comforting to know that his contract expires 192 days from today. Any what's with the fish? Shouldn't he be teaching his players baseball fundementals? I also retract a previous statement I made that Jacque Jones is the exact same player Corey Patterson is. Jones is worse.

Thanks to Travis for sending me this song.

MP3 | Steve Goodman - Go Cubs Go Anthology

I don't usually play my iPod on shuffle, but yesterday I did, and here are the first ten songs that I heard. A good mix for a Saturday morning.

MP3 | Refused - Refused Are Fuckin' Dead The Shape Of Punk To Come

A fantastic little number from the band that single-handedly gave hardcore a new sound in the late 90's. Simply revolutionary.

MP3 | Jeff Tweedy - Bob Dylan's 49th Beard Live At The Vic

Wilco's main man singing all by his lonesome self.

MP3 | Clor - Love + Pain S/T

This bouncy and fun song is from (IMHO) one of the most underrated albums of 2005.

MP3 | The Vandermark Five - Strata Elements Of Style...

Ken Vandermark is the king of the improv/undergound jazz scene in Chicago. Hear him roar.

MP3 | Wilderness - Emergency Vessel States

Even if they aren't, Wilderness sounds poised to someday rule the world, musically speaking, that is.

MP3 | State River Widening - Crown Cottonhead

A good chill out song that is a little electronic and a little acoustic.

MP3 | The Blood Brothers - The Salesman, Denver Max Burn Piano Island, Burn

This band sounds like it is on the verge of falling apart at all times.

MP3 | Spoon - I Turn My Camera On Gimmie Fiction

This song just sorta makes you want to move. It makes other people want to buy a Jaguar.

MP3 | Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver Sailing The Seas Of Cheese

I haven't heard this song in forever. Its amazing what can turn up in the digital nooks and crannies of your iPod.

MP3 | Nouvelle Vague - Guns Of Brixton S/T

This is easily one of the best Clash covers that I've ever heard.

Hey everybody, Evan Dando is back and is bringing the Lemonheads along even if it is really in name only. You have all probably heard this since it is a few weeks old and (at least by internet standards) old news. The new album is currently scheduled for a fall 2006 release on Vagrant Records.

"The recently re-formed Lemonheads are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on what will be their eighth studio album in a career that spans over two decades... Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Evan Dando is co-producing the album with drummer Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag), and the band is rounded out with bass player Karl Alvarez (Descendents). NYC-based Dando self-funded the project and has been recording in Stevenson’s Colorado studio off and on during the last year."

I remember being in my early teens and listening to It's A Shame About Ray over and over and over. I think I actually listened to the song "Confetti," on repeast a few hundred times in a row. My twin sister and I played and recorded (as a duo) a version of "Into Your Arms" (sung in German no less) for one of our high-school German classes. Evan Dando is one of my favorte songwriters and the Lemonheads were responsible for instroducing me to other bands like Smudge, Juliana Hatfield, Blake Babies, Buffalo Tom, Velo Deluxe, and the entire Mammoth Records and Taang! Records catalogs.

Even though reunions and reformations seem to be all the rage these days (Pixies, Lifetime, etc...) I'm actually pretty excited to hear what Evan can do with two members of the Descendents backing him up. Maybe Bill Stevenson and Karl Alvarez's influence will show and we'll get Hate Your Friends Part 2. That would be great.

MP3 | Lemonheads - Nothing True Hate Your Friends
MP3 | Lemonheads - Bit Part It's A Shame About Ray
MP3 | Lemonheads - Confetti It's A Shame About Ray

I can't believe I didn't find this out sooner and that I found out from (of all sources) Pitchfork. So what is the news? Well, evidently (the now reunited) Lifetime is so excited about their reunion that they are working on a new album and have signed a deal with Decaydance, the Fueled By Ramen offshoot label that's co-run by Fall Out Boy's bassist, Pete Wentz. Weird and unexpected, I know. Even wierder though is that the daughter of a woman in my company's HR department is dating Pete. Yep.

"Pete and Decaydance are giving us an opportunity to make the record we want to make while still staying in control of our music and our lives," Lifetime say on the Fueled By Ramen website. "They are behind us as artists and because of that, we're backing them as a label."

It really is about damn time that I posted something proper about Lifetime. I mean, this blog's title is a reference to them. Anyhow, while I've been listening to their recently released collection of pre Jade Tree stuff Somewhere In The Swamps Of Jersey lately, I've actually been a huge Lifetime fan for over ten years now. And while I've enjoyed the music of various members' post-Lifetime projects such as Paint It Black, Zero Zero, and Kid Dynamite (a whole heck of a lot), none of the music has had the same emotional connection with me as the music they made in Lifetime. The music on both Hello Bastards and Jersey's Best Dancers trancends the genres of punk and hardcore. I love Lifetime. My wife loves Lifetime. My brother loves Lifetime. My sister (not a punk) loves Lifetime. The Pishko's love Lifetime, and the list goes on and on.

"Angular, honed, stuffed with feedback, lyrically taut, they deliver resonant pop-hardcore shards that transcend the "emo" tag by a mile. There are those complexly scissor-fight guitar parts, fault-line structures, and muscular drums, but the centerpieces are Katz's poetic pen and exploded monotone, the latter which comes off agitated, bored, and heartsick all in the same line." - Pitchfork

Whatever label their new album (hopefully) comes out on, count me in as ultra excited. I only hope that they come play Chicago (which they have neglected in the past months) sometime soon. F%&$*ng Lifetime back together again and making a new album. Hot damn.

Do yourself a favor and go to any online store, run (don't walk) to your local music store, do whatever you have to and go buy all of Lifetime's albums. You will not be disappointed.

MP3 | Lifetime - Young, Loud, And Scotty Jersey's Best Dancers
MP3 | Lifetime - Daneurysm Hello Bastards
MP3 | Lifetime - The Boy's No Good The Boy's New Good 7"
MP3 | Lifetime - Starsixtynine Somewhere In The Swamps Of Jersey

I think my wife got me back for the last post. The following song has been stuck in my head since the weekend. I can't say I'm a huge fan of Taking Back Sunday, but this song is so catchy and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

MP3 | Taking Back Sunday - MakeDamnSure Louder Now

My wife will cringe when she reads this. Not becasue I am writing about some crazy free-form art noise group or even some great metallic hardcore band, no, its much worse than that.

Flook is a instrumental quartet that takes an innovative approach to neo-Celtic/Irish music. I first heard them a month or two ago on NPR (I think) and I've been really digging them a lot since then. Flook's newest album Haven is full of acoustic guitars, bodhran (a type of Irish drum), soaring dual flutes, and other assorted instrumentation that combine to form an amazing collection of rhythmic (almost Afro) Celtic tunes. The two flutes create intense interwoven and totally fucking melodic structures that reamin airy and that don't ever get boring (yes I felt the f-bomb was totally necessary).

While I am not an expert in Celtic folk music by any means (I'm barely a novice), I have read a number of rave reviews of Haven and it didn't surprise me at all to learn that Flook was named Best Group at the 2006 BBC Folk Awards. Just trust me. This shit is awesome and you can buy it here.

MP3 | Flook - The Tortoise And The Hare Haven
MP3 | Flook - Souter Creek Haven

There seems to have been a recent proliferation of bands that are playing classic heavy rock/metal that sounds as if it could be almost straight out of the early seventies. And while I don't include the bad joke that is The Darkness, Austin, Texas natives The Sword is one of those bands that is doing it for real. These Texans would beat those English poseurs into a bloody pulp.

On their latest full-length Age Of Winters, they dish out a liberal serving of groove-laden sludgey guitar riffs that will hit you like a sledgehammer that is complemented by plenty of melodic harmonized guitar soloing. The Sword manages to retain the classic quality of Sabbath and even Iron Maiden while also (at times) sounding like more "modern" groups such as Mastodon, High On Fire, or Wolfmother. All in all, the band is one to watch and listen to. They quickly managed to pummel their way into my head, and that isn't a bad thing. Age Of Winters is out now on Kemado Records.

MP3 | The Sword - Freya Age Of Winters
MP3 | The Sword - Iron Swan Age Of Winters